Pump



A. S. SOBERG `lune 5, 1951 PUMP Filed Sept. l1, 1946 Patented June 5, 1951 PUMP Arnold S. YSoberg, Maywood, Ill., assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to Sochris Development Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,228

9 Claims.

My invention which is particularly, but not solely applicable to deepwell pumps, has-as an important objective the provision of an apparatus for pumping liquids from substantial depths which requires only hydraulic coupling between the bottom of the well and a suitable source of power on the surface thereby eliminating the necessity of long lifting rods or electrical conductors and permitting disposition of the surface power source at any convenient point either ad- .jacent or remote from the well.

Further objects include theprovision of pumping apparatusof'the type described whichmay be economically manufacturedrwhich is adapted for extended operation Vwithout attention, and'- which is applicable withoutdiiliculty to existing wells.

Briefly my pumping apparatusiincludes'a pair of concentric pipes, the outer pipe beingtermed a casing and the inner being termed a piston tube. The piston tubehassealed therein a quantityl of liquid which exerts a statichead pressure against a pumping pistondisposed Within the piston tube at the bottom of the Well. Apower pistonon the surface isemployed to `force the pumping piston downwardlyagainst aspring by compressingthe liquid in the piston tube. The

`spring returns the pumping piston to its .upper position thus producing a reciprocating action which forces liquid through automatic check valves, disposed in the piston tube `and in the outer casing, upwardly-through the casing to a discharge pipe. The casing and discharge pipe communicate with the opposite side of the power piston and with a storage `tank in suchmanner l.

that the forward stroke of the power piston is utilized to force the pumping piston downwardly while the return stroke of the power pistonassists in forcing liquid from the casing through-the discharge pipe. This action, of course, reduces the head pressure working against the pumping piston at the bottom of the well and reduces the energy required.

increased eiiiciency and reduced cost of installation may be `obtained by employing a piston tube having a relatively small diameter compared to the diameter of the casing but which operates under high pressure thus reducing the mass and inertia of the reciprocated liquid.

Economy and durability are attained through the use of simply formed shapes which can be easily machined and a minimum of moving parts,

.particularly valves7 as may be seen from the detailed description and fromthe drawings in which Figure l is a diagrammatic .vertical section through an upper portion of aform of my pumping apparatus;

Figure 2 is asimilar section through a modified form of my apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a lower portion of my invention;

Figure 4- is a vertical section through a modied form of lower portion of my apparatus;

Figure 5is a sectional view of a modified form of lower portion of my apparatus; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along the lines 6 6 in Figure 5.

A basic form of my invention is illustrated in Figure 1 and includes a piston tube III mounted concentrically within the well casing II which is provided with a threaded cap I2 having a vertical opening through which the piston tube II) may extendand a horizontal opening communicating with a pipe I3. Theupper portion of the piston tube is sealed with a cap III and may include a priming valvel. A powerpiston 4I'I is reciprocably mounted in sealed-relation to a power pistoncylinder I8, one end of which is .communicating with the piston tube I0 and the other end of which` is in communication with the.

pipe I3. ,A discharge pipe Ill-having an auto- `matic check valve 2| also communicates with the power piston cylinder I8 at the same end as the pipe I3 hereinafterreferred to as the discharge-end. A pipe 22 communicating with the discharge pipe I9 is connected to an adjustable .pressure release check Vvalve 23 which in turn communicates with the piston tube IU adapted to relieve any excess pressure which may develop therein by` discharging liquid from the piston tube I0 through the pressure release valve 23 and the pipe 22 into the discharge pipev I 9.

A piston rod 24 extends through a suitable gland t6 attached to the discharge end of the power piston cylinder I8 and may be connected to a suitable source of power. The lower end of the casing l I may be threaded to receive a pump piston assembly generally designated 2l. The assembly 2l includes a cylinder 28 having an internal diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the piston tube II] 4and adapted to be coupled thereto. Theilower end of the cylinderl is provided with an integrally formed outwardly extending iiange Z9 adapted to engage the lower end of the casing II. A pump inlet check valve 3l is mounted as bythreads in the `lower end of the cylinder 28 and communicates with the liquid supply outside of the casing I I. A pump outlet check valve 32 may be mounted in the wall of the cylinder 28 immediately above rear of the power piston cylinder I8.

a pump inlet check valve 3I. A pump piston 33 is reciprocably mounted in the cylinder 2S and is provided with upper and lower washers 34 to Y prevent leakage. Preferably a stud 36 is attached to the top of the piston 33 to permit removal of the piston when necessary. One or more coil springs''l are disposed within the cylinder 28 bearingagainst the bottom of the piston 33 and against a suitably disposed internal flange 3i!V Ythe system, in so faras possible, all air. Power is then applied to the piston rod 24 reciprocating the power piston I'I within the cylinder I 8. As

, the piston is moved forward, that is to the right as shown in Figure 1, the liquid sealed within the Ypiston tube I9 forces the pump piston 33 downwardly compressing the coil springs 31 and driving any liquid trapped between the pump piston 33 andthe pump inlet check valve 3| outwardly through the pump outlet check valve 32 into the space between the piston tube I9 `and the casing II. As the power` piston I l moves to the rear,

Y Vthe pressure on the liquid in the piston tube I9 is reduced causing the pump ,piston 33 to rise under the pressure of a compressed coil spring 31. This movement draws liquid through the well point 39 and the pump inlet check valver3l into Y Vvthe cylinder 28, valve 32 beingclosed by the pressure of liquid in the casing or by other means such as Ya spring. As the pumping action continues, the casing II is filled with liquid causing liquid to flow Ythrough the pipe I3 and into the As this occurs, it maybe lseen that the rearward stroke of the power piston I1 will force liquid from the power piston cylinder I8 upwardly through the pipe I9 and the check valve 2! to the point of storage or use. This relieves the pump piston 33 of considerable load by reducing the head presvfailure causing a dangerous increase of pressure in the piston tube I0, the forward stroke of the power piston I'I can drive liquid from the piston tube Il) through the pressure release valve 23 and the pipe 22 into the discharge pipe I9 after the Vpumping piston 33 has been forced downwardly, `thereby preventing damage to the apparatus. `Ther release valve 23 may be of any desired type such as a diaphragm valve or a balanced spring valve butin either case the valve should be adjustable to the desired maximum pressure.

Y I have found it desirable to use two or more coil springs 3'! with the stronger spring somewhat shorter than the weaker spring but both being designed to provide a relatively long travel. In -this manner a single standard set of springs can be made to operate satisfactorily in wells of varying depth where the head pressure against the piston varies since as the load increases the lighter spring will be compressed to `a point which will bring the piston into contact with the heavier spring. If it is desired to remove the lower portion of my pumping apparatus for inspection or repair, the piston 33 may be removed by inserting a suitably threaded rod through the cap I4 engaging the stud 36 thus permitting withdrawal of the piston. Removal of the cap I2 will permit removal of the entire pump piston assembly by rotation and withdrawal of the piston tube I0 which disengages the flange 29 from the casing II. It should not, however, be understood that the assembly 21 is necessarily cast or otherwise formed in one piece since obviously it may be built up from several separately formed sections as by welding or by the use of suitably threaded connections.

In the type of pump illustrated in Figure l, it

vmay be seen that the volume of liquid displaced by a single stroke of the pump piston 33 is substantially equal to the liquid displaced by a single stroke of the power piston I'I. This relationship, however, is not essential to the proper operation of my device and I may employ, as illustrated in Figure 2, a piston tube 4I having-a diameter substantially less than that of a concentric external casing 42 or of a power piston. In this modication the forward end of the piston cylinder I8 is open and the power piston I1 is provided with a secondary piston rod 43 which is in turnrconnected to a secondary power piston 44 of substantially smaller diameter reciprocably mounted in a secondary power piston cylinder 46. The cylinder 46 communicates with the small piston tube 4I extendingdownwardly through the cap I2 to a secondary pump piston cylinder 4'! which is suitably attached to the piston tube 4I. Air bleed valves 48 may be provided adjacent vthe cap I2 and the pressure release valve 23 to assist in exhausting air from the system. In this modication a pipe 49 is provided to conduct liquid from the pressure release valve 23 to the discharge pipe I9 at a point above the check valve 2I. A suitable pipe and valve connection 5I is provided interconnecting the pipe 49 with the secondary power piston cylinder 4B to facilitate priming of the system. The secondary pump cylinder 41 may be formed integrally with a threaded pump cylinder 52 (Figure 4) which engages the bottom of the casing d2, and is provided with one or more cylinder outlet valves 53 adjacent the top of a pump piston cylinder. The lower portion of the pump cylinder 52 may be provided with a well point 39 similar to that previously described. The lower end of the pump cylinder is closed as by a wall 54 except for a threaded aperture 56 in which may be mounted a pump cylinder inlet valve 51. A pump piston 53 having a diameter substantially greater than that of the piston 5I is connected by a rod 59 to a secondary pump piston 6I which is reciprocably mounted in the secondary pump cylinder 4?. The pump piston 58 is provided with upperV and lower washers 62 toprevent leakage and with one or more piston check valves 63 adapted to permit the upward but not downward passage of water.

The operation of this modification of my device isV substantially similar to that previously described except that the priming may be accomplished by opening the air bleed valves 48 and the priming valve 5I prior to operation. This Ylls the piston tube 4I with liquid 'from the pipe I9. The pressure exerted on the liquid within the piston tube 4I is suiiiciently high to force the pump-piston 58 downwardly against the pressure `of one or `more coil springs 31 interposed between piston 58 and the wall 54. This down- 1ward motion seats the inlet valve 51, trapping liquid-between the face of the piston 53 vand the wall 54. As the pressure `is increasedthe liquid is `forced through the `piston valves 63 into the space above the piston. As the power piston I1, and hence the secondary power piston 44 is retracted, the secondary pump piston 5| and pump piston 58 will rise becausey ofthe pressure exerted 'by the spring 31. This forces liquidthrough the valves `53 into the casing 42 from which itis conducted by pipe I3 to the rear or discharge end of the power piston cylinder 'i8 frcmwhich it is forced by piston l1 through valve 2! and pipe I9. The amount of pressure necessary to produce re- `ciprocation of the pump piston 58 is a function of the ratio of the area of the secondary pump piston 6l to the area of the pump piston 58. For exconnection 4with Figures `2 and 4. In this modification, however, a pump cylinder 54 is provided with an eccentrically mounted cylindrical flange 66 threaded to engage the lower portion of the casing 42. A. conduit 61 extends through the `flange 56 and through a wall of the pump cylinder 54 into communication with asecondary pump cylinder 68 axially mounted within pump cylinder '54. The lower end of the pump cylinder 64 is closed as by a walls!! apertured to receive a suitable'check valve 1| adapted to permitthe entry of water into the cylinder 64 but to prevent its-withdrawal. Arms'12 may extend from a secondary pump cylinder 68 to the wall 59 .providing supporting means for the former. The `flange 66 extends inwardly over the upper end of the pump cylinder 64 and is provided with a cylinder outlet valve 12 communicating with the casing 42. A. pump piston 13 having one or .more check valves 14, mounted in conduits extending through the pistons, is reciprocably Vmounted in the pump cylinder E4 and may be `provided with suitable washers 16.

A rod 11 connects the pump piston to a secondary pump piston 18 which is substantially smaller in diameter than the pump piston 13. The valves 14 inthe piston 13 are adapted to permit liquid to pass upwardly through the piston but to prevent its flow in a reverse direction. One or more coil springs 31 are interposed between the head oi' the piston 13 and the flange 66. Since the conduit 61 communicates with the piston tube l l, it may be seen that as the pressure within the piston tube is increased, the secondary pump piston 18 will rise forcingthe piston 13 upwardly and driving liquid upwardly through the outlet check valve 12 intothe casing 42. As the pressure `within the piston tube il is released, the spring 31 will force the piston 13 downwardly thus permitting liquid `trapped in the cylinder 54 between the wall `559 and the piston 13 to pass throughthe piston into the pump chamber. The upward strokeof the piston 13 also draws liquid into the cylinder 5ft through the inlet check valve 1i. lin-this modification, since the piston `tube 4l is not concentric with the casing, it is `desirable to provide a centrallydisposed stud 19 fixed tothe `flange Giito permtiwithdrawalfof the lower portion of my device from the well.

Of thelvalves herein described, only thecylinder inlet and outlet check valves are essential, as, for example, valves 3| and 32 Vin Figures 1 and 3, or valves'51 and 63 in `Figures 2 and 4, the other valves being desirable to-increase e- Vciency and ease of operation.

From the-foregoing descripiton, it is obvious `that no lifting rodsare requiredtooperate my pump and since the power is transmitted from the `surface to a pumping piston at the bottom of the well hydraulically, the power source may be located at any convenient point adjacent to or remote from the well. Since synchronism is automatic, a single power piston may, by suitable manifold corrections, be made to operate a plu- 'rality of wells.

Substantially all of the component parts required and essentialto the operation of my` ap- `paratus may be simplyformed of inexpensive materials by standardlow cost'machining or casting operations andsince the moving parts reJ quired for the operation of my device are few,

`it may be seen that the potential sources of wear or malfunctioning are reduced to a minimum.

The foregoing descriptionhas been made with the knowledge `that those skilled in the art may make many substitutions and modifications of the precise arrangement and disposition of parts herein described by way of illustration, and I do not therefore limit myself to the specic details herein described except in so far as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Pump apparatus comprising a power cylinder, a substantially vertical pump cylinder disposed adjacent the source of liquid, a secondary cylinder adjacent the pump cylinder, a liquidlled piston tube interconnecting one end of the power cylinder with the secondary cylinder7 a casing around the piston tube, a discharge conduit communicating with the casing, a check valve in the discharge conduit, a power piston reciprocably mounted in the power cylinder, a secondary power piston mounted reciprocably in the secondary cylinder, a pump piston reciprocably mounted in the pump cylinder defining therewith a pump chamber and rigidly connected 'to said secondary power piston, a conduit through said pump piston, a valve controlling said conduit, a spring in the pump cylinder disposed to .resist movement of the pump `piston in one cylinder, a check valve in the discharge conduit;

a power piston reciprocably mounted in the power cylinder, a pump piston reciprocably mounted 4in the pump cylinder dening therewith a pump chamber, a secondary power piston reciprocably mounted in the secondary cylinder and connected to said pump piston, a spring in the pump cyl- .inder disposed to resist movement of the piston in one direction, an inlet check valve between the pump chamber and the source of liquid, and

"an outlet check valve between the pump chamber and the casing.

3. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with a well casing and a liquid-lled piston tube comprising a pump cylinder, a piston casing, spring means on one side of the piston 'opposing movement of the piston in one direction,

a secondary piston connected to the pump piston, a cylinder around the secondary piston communicating with one end of the piston tube, the

'diameter of the secondary piston being substangtially less than the pump piston, and means for varying the pressure of the liquid in the piston Vtube comprising a power piston reciprocably mounted in a cylinder connected with the other -end of the piston tube.

4. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in con- -junction with a well having a casing and a liquid- -lled piston tube comprising a pump cylinder,

a pump piston in the cylinder defining a pump chamber,v said piston having a conduit extending therethrough, a check valve in the conduit, a cylinder inlet check valve below the piston, a cylinder outlet check valve above the piston, Vcom- Ymunicating directly with the casing, a spring 'at one side of the pump piston resiliently opposing movement of the piston in one direction, a secondary piston rigidly connected to the pump -Apiston on the other side of the pump piston, a Vcylinder around the secondary piston communicating with the piston tube, the diameter of the secondary piston being substantially'smaller than the pump piston, said secondary piston sealingrsaid piston tube from communication with said pump chamber and means for varying the pressure of the liquid within the piston tube.

5. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with a well having a casing and a liquid- `filled piston tube comprising a pump cylinder, a

piston in' one direction, a secondary piston rigidly f connected to the pump piston at the other side, a cylinder around the secondary piston communicating with one end of the piston tube to seal it from the pump chamber, the diameter of the secondary piston being substantiallyV smaller than the pump piston, means for varying the pressure of the liquid within the piston tube comprising a cylinder connected to the other end of the piston tube and a reciprocating piston therein, and means for releasing pressure developed in the piston tube in excess of the predetermined value comprising a pressure release valve in said piston tube.

6. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with a well having a casing and a liquidfilled piston tube comprising a pump cylinder, a piston in the cylinder dening a pump chamber, said piston having a conduit extending therethrough, a check valve in the conduit, a cylinder outlet check valve,v above the piston, communicating directly with the casing, a spring at one side of the piston resiliently opposing movement of the piston in one direction, a secondary piston rigidly connected to the pump piston on the other side, a V'cylinder` housing the secondary piston 8 communicating with one end of the piston tube to seal it fromvthe pump chamber, the diameter of the secondary piston being substantially smaller than the pump piston, means for periodically increasing the pressure of the liquid within the pistonV tube to move the pump piston against the spring resistance, a pressure release valve in said piston tube and a valved conduit connecting said piston tube with a supply of liquid, to provide means for replenishing liquid in the piston tube. Y

7. Pump apparatus comprising a power cylinder, a substantially vertical pump cylinder disposed adjacent the source of liquid, a liquid-filled piston tube connected with one end of the Vpower cylinder, Va relief valve for relieving pressure in the piston tube in excess of the predetermined value, a casing around the piston tube, a discharge conduit communicating with the casing, a check valve in the discharge conduit, a secondary power cylinder adjacent the pump cylinder and connected with said piston tube, a power piston reciprocably mounted in thepower cylinder, a pump piston reciprocably mounted in the pump cylinder defining therewith a pump chamber, a secondary power piston in the secondary cylinder connected with the pump piston and sealing said piston tube from the casing, a spring in the pump cylinder disposed to resist movement of the piston in one direction, an inlet check valve in' the cylinder below the piston, and an outlet check valve between the pump chamber and the casing, said power piston adapted to periodically increase the pressure in the piston tube to move the secondary piston against the spring action.

8. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in a well having la casing comprising a liquid-flledpiston tube, a pump cylinder, a pump piston in the cylinder having a conduit, a check valve in the conduit, a` secondary cylinder below the piston communicating at one end with the piston tube, a power piston in the secondary pump piston cylinder, means rigidly connecting said pistons, a cylinder inlet check valve below the power piston, a cylinder outlet check valve above the pump piston communicating directly with the casing, aV

spring in the pump cylinder disposed to resiliently resist movement of the pistons in one direction,

vand means for periodically increasing the pressure of the liquid in the piston tube to move the power piston against the spring action whereby the spring and liquid pressure combine to reciprocate the power piston to pump liquid from the pump cylinder directly to the pump casing.

9. Pumping apparatus adapted for use in a well having a casing comprising a liquid-iilled piston tube, a pump cylinder, a pump piston in the Vcylinder having a conduit, a check Valve in the conduit, a secondary cylinder below the piston communicating at its lower end with the piston tube, a power piston in the secondary cylinder, means rigidly connecting said pistons, a pump cylinder inlet check valve below the power piston,

a pump cylinder outlet check valve about the pump piston communicating with the casing, a spring in the cylinder disposed to resiliently resist upward movement of both pistons, a discharge pipe connected to the casing, a check valve in the discharge pipe, and single means for varying the pressure of liquid in the piston tube and in the casing comprising two concentric cylinders of different sizes, the smaller being connected with the liquid-filled piston tube, the larger connected with the discharge pipe, interconnected pistons in each of said cylinders and means for reciprocating said pistons, wherebythe'oute'r stroke of 9 the smaller will transmit pressure through the Number piston tube to move the power piston upwardly. 2,180,366 ARNOLD S. SOBERG. 2,307,160 2,312,337 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,376,538 The following references are of record in the 2,451560 file of this lpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date l 433,570

1,784,706 Phillips Dec. 9, 1930 2,079,996 Humason May 11, 1937 l0 Name Date Reichert Nov. 21, 1939 Ryan i Jan. 5, 1943 Hughes Mar. 2i, 1943 Hardy May 22, 1945 Knowles Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Sept. 8, 1926 

